Expert Indicates “Many Lethal Doses” of Novichok in Poisonings

The principal scientific adviser who provided guidance to police following the poisoning of a former Russian spy stated that it is highly probable “many lethal doses” of the nerve agent Novichok were deployed. Testifying at the Dawn Sturgess Inquiry in London, the Defence and Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) witness, identified solely as MK26, indicated that a quantity as small as “a third of, to a sixth, of a grain of salt” possessed the potential to be lethal to a human. Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, his daughter Yulia, and then-police officer Nick Bailey were all subjected to Novichok poisoning in Salisbury in March 2018. All survived. Nevertheless, Ms. Sturgess, aged 44, succumbed to the nerve agent in July 2018 following her exposure. Ms. Sturgess, a mother of three from Wiltshire, became contaminated through a discarded perfume bottle in nearby Amesbury. During the inquiry, MK26 faced a question regarding whether the Novichok bottle responsible for Ms. Sturgess’s death was identical to the one employed in the Salisbury incident several months prior, where it was left on the door handle of the Skripals’ home. They responded: “I think I have tried to express my uncertainty because it’s unclear exactly what the circumstances were of finding that bottle and the assembly of that bottle and so without that information, it’s not possible to exclude that there were two bottles.” Andrew O’Connor, serving as counsel to the inquiry, inquired about the possibility that a separate bottle – “one that has not been found” – was used in the Salisbury attack. “And the bottle that we did then find… was a bottle that had been brought along and was discarded without having been used in Salisbury?” MK26 replied: “I think that’s possible.” MK26, a research scientist with two decades of experience at the DSTL in Porton Down, close to Salisbury, stated that a very limited number of individuals would possess the capability to safely manufacture the nerve agent due to its “highly hazardous” nature, even in minute amounts. They further noted that the proficiency of those handling the substance would be required to be “extremely advanced”. Nerve agent samples were collected from Mr. Skripal’s door handle 12 days following the poisonings. The inquiry was informed that rainwater and snow may have influenced its concentration levels. MK26 informed the inquiry: “After many days of weathering, with the contamination found throughout the locations visited in Salisbury that afternoon by the Skripals, suggests that it is highly likely that there were many lethal doses of the highly toxic specific Novichok applied to the door handle.” MK26 further stated that the nerve agent exhibited a concentration level of 97-98%. They mentioned that the operations room at Porton Down operated “24/7” following the poisonings. “I haven’t seen this level of activity any time before that or since and I hope I never do again.” They indicated that the incident was perceived as “very personal” and had a significant effect on the personnel, due to its proximity to where many of them lived. “When Dawn Sturgess sadly passed away, it highlighted to us how dreadful it had been and we were all really sorry that that happened,” MK26 added. MK26 informed the inquiry that the deployment of chemical weapons was “very rare” and that they had not observed the use or presence of Novichok prior to the 2018 incidents. They noted that the 2020 poisoning of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny represented the sole other occasion where the nerve agent had been utilized, to their knowledge. “There is no reason for these chemicals to be present anywhere other than that they have been made deliberately to cause harm,” MK26 said. “It was clear that whichever laboratory had made this had not only made it but synthesised it, which adds a layer of complexity, a layer of sophistication and a layer of hazard to the operators who are undertaking that procedure.” The inquiry continues.